LETTER: Cartoon offensive

I am deeply offended by the cartoon displayed on the editorial page on Sept. 20, apparently depicting “Arabs” discussing Mayor DeBlasio’s terminating NYPD’s Surveillance Program of Radical Muslims.

At this time in the U.S., with increased violence against Muslim Americans and the inflammatory rhetoric used to demean them, it is not an appropriate way to depict people from the Middle East. It is reminiscent of the way Jews were depicted in Europe during and prior to World War II and how the Japanese, Germans, and Italians were depicted in propaganda in our country during the war; this propaganda was intended to dehumanize them.

Further, the cartoonist shows the caricatures wearing Hillary buttons. This seems to imply collaboration and treason on the part of Mrs. Clinton. All of this is patently distasteful.

We should all be alarmed by terrorism, and want to implement all measures to keep the U.S. safe, but providing an inflammatory caricature of “others” only incites those on both sides of the issue regarding how to deal with terrorism, and it further creates prejudice and an atmosphere of intolerance and bigotry towards people innocent of any act of war against the U.S.

I am ashamed of the Inter Lake, as our community’s newspaper, in its decision to publish this cartoon. I’m sure your more opinionated and vocal editorial readers will respond by identifying me as a person who is too politically correct. I would respond that words and images are powerful and can have consequences, particularly in the current politically charged environment. Please stop contributing to that environment. —Charlene Duncan, Kalispell